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Video: Fractures in Holuhraun North of Bárðarbunga

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Video: Fractures in Holuhraun North of Bárðarbunga

A screenshot of the video showing fractures in Holuhraun lava field.Photo: Ómar Ragnarsson/RÚV.

A video shot by journalist, pilot and environmentalist Ómar Ragnarsson from the air this morning, showing the fractures and depression caused by the intrusive dike, which leads from the Bárðarbunga caldera north through Dyngjujökull outlet glacier and towards Askja volcano, has been posted on the website of national broadcaster RÚV.

The video first shows the cauldrons Skaftárkatlar in Vatnajökull with Bárðarbunga in the far distance. Moving closer to Bárðarbunga, circular depressions can be seen in the surface of the glacier, which are likely the cauldrons first observed by scientists yesterday.

Then Ómar flies across Dyngjujökull with a view of the mountain Herðubreið to the north. By the glacier’s edge, river Jökulsá á Fjöllum can be seen flowing from underneath it.

Next the Holuhraun lava field appears. The lava is thought to have been produced in an eruption in 1797.

Forty-five seconds into the video, the fractures in the lava field can clearly be seen. They were likely caused by divergence as a result of the magma in the underground intrusive dike breaking its way northwards with great force.

Later, more fractions can be seen but it’s uncertain whether they were created by recent events.